I have been backyard birding for a year now in a suburb north of Boston. We live about 1/4 mile from a reservation, too. Aside from the "usual suspects" (chickadees, etc.) I have had a few other species such as a flicker, yellow-bellied sapsucker, and hairy woodpecker.
I try new things to keep the birds happy, especially with our New England winters.

I'd like to try attracting bluebirds and have purchased two of the nice angled, slot-top houses to give this a try.
And I will check out the website "Sialis" to get more information.

Now having said all this - What I would love to find out is whether anyone in our area has had success with attracting bluebirds? And if so, when do they arrive?

Thanks -

This week I put up one feeder without my wires on it and house sparrows took it over. So I know I am going to have to deal with them when I put up these nestboxes.

I have already been reading the Sialis website, very helpful. I definitely have a lot to learn. I have never in my life seen a bluebird, so I am excited about trying this.

I think I have a good open spot for the nestboxes. We are only 7 miles north of Boston, but the Fells Reservation is at the end of our street. I'm sure that's where a lot of our birds come from, so I am hoping there are bluebirds too.

Thanks again for your encouragement -

Donna

I live about 42 miles west of Boston and haven't been able to attract any bluebirds yet and I believe it's because there are some dreaded HOSP in my area. Funny, there is a huge golf course behind the houses across the street from me so if I could just get rid of the HOSP, I'm sure I would attract some Bluebirds. I do have chickadees, Carolina Wrens, who nested last summer in one of my boxes, nuthatchers, titmice, lots of woodpeckers, etc., but no bluebirds yet. I refuse to give up though and will just keep trying. My backyard is a nice size with feeders, three birdhouses, a birdbath and some shrubs, trees and perennials beds, hopefully they'll come.

Linda

In Spring 2006 I started feeding the birds BOSS in one small tube feeder and than built a suet log in December and started making home-made suet mix. A couple months later (Feb 2007), two female Bluebirds showed up on the suet log. At the time, I had no idea what kind of bird it was, but figured it out and was thrilled. The Bluebirds have been coming regularly for three winters now, to eat the suet mixture, but they would disappear by Spring. I tried putting up a nest box, but despite removing several large trees and many invasive plants, the yard was still too overgrown, and the box only attracted House Wrens.

I continued to clear out invasive shrubs and vines, but purposely left some dead pine snags in the back yard standing, "for the birds". Much to my shock, Bluebirds decided to nest in woodpecker holes in the pine snags last Spring! I never thought they would nest here. Three successful broods in 2 different snags - because the first snag blew over in a rain storm after the first brood, so they moved to another.

A pair of Bluebirds (perhaps the same pair?) is clearly expressing their intent to nest in the snag again this year, but there are both House sparrows and House wrens in the yard. I have already set up a "decoy" nest box with a Van Ert trap and trapped one male House sparrow. There is a pair of HOSPs that are very interested in the box now, and plant to set the trap when they start to build a nest.

Checking out "their snag" last month -

So glad to hear from you! I wondered whether you had bluebirds, it seemed you might.

Your photo is great - what a wonderful thing to see a pair of birds checking out a place to nest in. Today I saw a Carolina Wren at our feeder, and could have sworn I saw a bird "zoom" toward the nestbox where those wrens had a brood last year. I hope I'm right. I understand now how people feel when they think birds are returning. To have bluebird pairs do that is really special.

What you wrote is encouraging. I have everything I need to put up the nestbox and plan to install it somewhat near my vegetable garden and fence, so that if I am lucky enough to have bluebirds come here, they will have a bird bath, places to perch, and plenty of bugs and seeds. I am hopeful!

Thanks for your encouragement. If something good happens I certainly will let everyone know!

MA has a bluebird society.

Mr. Bluebird flew to the nest hole several times during the day today, to claim his box. At one point he was assaulted by a marauding band of 5 HOSPs - perhaps last year's fledglings? The bluebird tried to chase away a HOSP who went near the hole, but he was outnumbered so I walked in the back to help and shoooed them away. A sparrow spooker might be a good idea.

Here is the male Bluebird at the nest hole today - his coloring looks deeper blue to me lately.